Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1887-08-25
National Soldiers, Homo.

- OJ t
The Soldiers Home referred to here is
located about three miles west of Dayton,
Ohio.
WEST ALEXANDRIA. o., August Z.
EDITOR HERALD AND TRIBUNE:
Last Tuesday l took a little run out to
the Soldiers Home. | was not the cen.
trail figure either, for my " better. half "
and Rev. Samuel Miller and lady, who
have largely contributed to our comfort
since here, bore nc company. had
driven through the grounds on my re.
turn from Dayton, but was not satisfied
with so short a visit, and hence my sec.
ond trip.
This is the time above all others, dust
and heat excepted, for one to see the
Home, and If the flowers and grass did
not show to better advantage now, one
naturally wants to get little respite from
labor " and especially the dust and clam.
or of an every-day-alike country town.
We were up In the Silly hours, ranting
around, trying like everybody else does,
to get there by the time the bluecoats be.
gin TO STIR, but we were scarce half way
when the sunrise cannon fired, and VIC
were hardly well upon the grounds till
the scorching rays of the sun admonished
us that we were destined to swelter
through just such a holiday as we had
prayed deliverance from when we turned
our back upon the old Alleghanies. We
arrived about z o'clock, having driven
II miles in less than three hours. Lucki,
ly we found the hostler's mind unoccu.
pied with other stock and so we got q
choice berth for Old Pete, and ourselves,
like Alexander Selkirk, monarch Of all
we surveyed so far as outsiders were con
cerned but our "rights to dispute I" we
found many in the shape of ~sign-boards
and posters to Keep off the grass"
Pull no flowers" "No admittance"
and in nearly every direction We looked,
was n blue coat patrol to enforce the rules.
The carriage drives are laid out in
sIraights and curves to a nicely, each
avenue bearing the name of q State.
pennsylvania and Ohio avenues vie with
each other in position and attention.
They are first Mcadamized with crushed
stones and then covered with white sand
and are so well kept that they almost ap-
pear to be waxed. while evergreen and
deciduous trees from every cline form
exquisite borders and parks. Near the
principal buildings the trees stand far
ther back, forming a pleasing background
Tor the floral wreaths which border the
avenues. Geraniums and coleuses are
important factors in the landscape gar.
dening.
Dumpy work is employed on the drives;
that is, a soldier gets drunk or disorderlv
IN some way and has to go on the dump
Tor from one to one hundred days. They
almost clean out the grass with tweezers,
and where dirt accumulates from driving,
a man is there with a shovel and broom
10 take 1t up. The lawns are closely cut
with hand-sickle and lawn mowers and
where a hose can be attached they are
sprinkled every few hours.
We first went into the park but did not
see h animals that were to be seen there
very lew years ago. A large bear, an
elk and a dozen deer were all the ANNA ais
OF note to be seen. When we returned
70 TIE hotel we saw as many relics of the
old time Zoo as could be preserved /;
buffalo heads, stays horns, rabbit ears, etc.
Down a pair of shaded rustic steps we
went and found ourselves In the tropical
gardens, where, on either side of q fine
fountain, grew, not the "tree of Life "
but q lemon with its yellow, luscious
fruit and n palmetto whose broad leaves
as they gently swayed seemed to watt q
breeze from South Land. An orange
and an India rubber tree stand near by
and many others of finer foliage, whose
names l did not learn. Another glance
at the fountain is but to envy the boy and
girl, whose little bodies of metal the
toundryman has well cast, who stand un.
der an umbrella and seem to mock the
rain drops cast up by the fountain which
all day long drip, drip from the umbrel.
Ia to the thirsty flowers which lie at their
feet.
There is another fountain in the midst
OF an artificial lake which throws q steam
fifty feet high and vanishes in q graceful
curve OF mist. A small three masted
vessel lay at anchor a few feet from the
shore. Here may be seen Ohio baa,a I'm
all its tropical glory, and a fine dispIW Of
southern plants and flowers. The LARGEST
house plant was the PdUdanuS UtilaS, and
to represent it in its wild nature a seven
foot stuffed alligator lay under its broad
branches.
Two artificial mounds are attractive to
all visitors on account of the rare flowers
which grow upon them and the manner
in which they are planted. One has two
tlags and q shield the other has an angel
with a whip chasing a wan fine q
representation as any artist can make. The
flowers are selected and arranged in such
manner as to give it the proper shade.
Not a cutting Is left on the ground or
given away. The green house is a mag.
ni1cent structure but has few attractions
now, We next visited the library and
reading room. They have q fine selec.
ton of books in the Putnam Library as
well as other generous gifts a rare collec.
ton OF wal paintings, photographs of
noted warriors and several relics of field
life-among others Major Joe Hooker's
saddle. General Grants had been sent
away a few days before our visit. We
also noticed a small collection of rocks,
minerals, aad q complete file of current
literature. A hundred soldiers were in,
and more than half of the number were
absorbed in daily papers. They are pass.
ionately fond. of Harper's periodicals, I
was told.
We were charmed by the sweet music
proceeding from the opera house and
were going to turn our feet thither, but
our guide informed us that it was a re-,
hn0 rOa1 and M AnN ,~.fl - - -
awhile.
"Is there an entertainment at hand ?"
said l."
1--WE have engaged a troupe for the
season, who give us an entertainment
nearly every alternate evening" said he,
and tonight promises to be n of
their best efforts"
Free for the soldiers / presume"
We each pay a dime per night, and
this with the twenty five cents that yisi.